Bizarro Pennsylvania.

Ever Spend Any Time ...... thinking about the southern hemisphere? It's a land of contradictions.
When it's winter here in Pennsylvania, it's summer there. When it's Tuesday here, it's, like, next Thursday there. And the water in the toilets spins in the wrong direction when you flush 'em.So we suppose it shouldn't come as any surprise to find out that the Australians boast a politician named ... are you ready for this? ... Santo Santoro.And just like here, Mr. Santoro has been hounded from office. Not because, like Our Rick, voters rejected him for a so-far invisible career pol from Scranton.Nossirree.According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr. Santoro is resigning from the Australian Senate because of revelations that he'd failed to disclose financial interests in 72 different companies.The former Aging Minister revealed last week that he'd failed to disclose numerous shareholdings, after it was learned that he'd held shares in a biotech company that potentially conflicted with his role in Prime Minister John Howard's government. He faces possible disciplinary actions under Senate rules there.Funny old world, isn't it?The rest of today's news starts after the jump.

We So Can Run The Turnpike.At least that's what PA Turnpike Commission officials told the state Senate Transportation
Committee during an appearance on Tuesday, as it outlined a series of options (ranging from big-city surcharges and the introduction of tolls along Interstate 80) to leasing out the 537-mile highway.With their basic survival on the line, commission officials told lawmakers that they're in a better position than private operators to wring cash out of the Turnpike, the Associated Press reports this morning.Commission Vice Chairman Timothy J. Carson warned that any private operator would demand the right to levy "very aggressive" toll increases as a part of any long-term lease and that only they could ensure that the Turnpike Commission retains its historic reputation as a patronage dumping ground.Just kidding. He didn't really say that. But still ...."There's no free lunch here," Carson told the AP. "It's just a question of who's going to help pay for what is done."
Speaking of Popular Vices ...The convenience store industry and a malt beverage distributors trade group squared off on a
topic near and dear to our hearts: beer sales at convenience stores.On Tuesday, representatives from Sheetz, Wegmans and Weis markets told a joint legislative committee that they'd be put at a competitive disadvantage if they weren't allowed to compete with restaurants that sell carry-out beer.Representatives from the distributors' group, meanwhile, questioned whether retail stores could be trusted to keep beer out of the hands of
underage drinkers, the online news service, Capitolwire, reports this morning.More astute readers may recall that this whole debate was occasioned by the decision of a Sheetz convenience store in Altoona to begin selling take-away beer. The sales were temporarily halted by the state Commonwealth Court, but are now back on, as the sate Liquor Control Board challenges the decision.All this ruckus has convinced one Senate Republican that a legislative solution is necessary."I think we'll have to have some legislation to help tighten up [the law] for the Liquor Control Board to issue these licenses," Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, said.Otherwise, "I think you'll have more court decisions like you saw recently," said Rafferty, who chaired Tuesday's joint meeting of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and the House Liquor Control Committee.Only in Pennsylvania could this be so difficult.

Remember, Kids ...... when you're running for Philadelphia mayor, always file the right paperwork. Otherwise, you
could end up like U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, D-Pa., who spent what we're sure was an enjoyable morning yesterday fighting to keep his place on the spring primary ballot.During a court appearance yesterday, a frustrated Brady said he omitted his city pension and ties to the carpenters' union from a financial disclosure form because his lawyers told him he didn't have to, the Inquirer reported this morning.Luzerne County Judge Patrick J. Toole Jr. - who presided because
Brady, the city's Democratic chairman, helps elect Philadelphia judges
- is expected to rule within a few days. Those involved believe the
dispute will reach the state Supreme Court, the Inky reported,And who says Philly politics are boring?Where In The World Is Bob Casey? (TM)A periodic Capitol Ideas feature returns. This week, we find Pennsylvania's junior United
States senator back on home turf in Lackawanna County, where he gave a speech to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick on Saturday.“Let
us never forget those sons and daughters of Ireland ... who taught all
of us how to live our lives in a way that is centered on work and
family and faith,” said Casey, principal speaker at the
organization’s 102nd dinner Saturday night at Genetti Manor, the ScrantonTimes-Tribune reported.In
a speech during which he quoted liberally from his father’s
autobiography, Casey told attendees that he's often asked about the late
governor, who addressed the Friendly Sons dinner in 1987, just months
after winning his first term the Times-Trib' reported..Defense De Fumer.The last refuge for state House members who smoke is gone.
Now, there's no smoking anywhere in areas the state House controls -- including lawmakers' offices, and that's got some of the more severe nicotine junkies up in arms."I'm very willing to quit smoking back there," said Rep. Robert E.
Belfanti Jr., D- Northumberland, said of the members' lounge at the rear of the House chambers, where legislators had retreated since smoking was banned from the House floor in 1979."But certainly in the privacy of our own offices, while we're at ease
for hours and hours ... That's just unfair, and it has nothing to do
with reform," he told the Associated Press.The smoking ban was part of a package of changes in the way the House
operates. Members approved it last week despite an effort by Minority
Leader Sam H. Smith, R-Jefferson, a cigar smoker, to amend it to
allow House leaders to designate smoking areas. The Senate adopted a smoke-free policy that included members' offices
in 1992, according to Chief Clerk Russ Faber. In 1997, the Department
of General Services banned smoking in most other public areas,
including the Rotunda, public meeting rooms, hallways and stairwells, the AP reported.

EdWatch (TM):Gov. Ed's in Lancaster this morning where, at 11 a.m., he'll continue his transportation funding roadshow during an event in the City Council chambers.

In The Blogosphere:Keystone Politics on Montco's Tom Ellis dropping his re-election bid; It's still Tuesday at GrassrootsPA; Causing us to giggle involuntarily, Above Average Jane says she has Nutter News; Tony Phyrillas says GOP infighting in Montco benefits ... Democrats; A Big Fat Slob on Toomey, McCain, and why we're bored with the presidential race already; PaWatercooler reflects on the changing of the seasons; Dick Polman has the annotated story of Iraq; I've Made A Huge Tiny Mistake has his Reading Eagle Reader Letter of the Day; Chris Casey & Co. on Sam Bennett jumping into the 15th District race for '08; Crooks and Liars has some video from CNN last night; Taegan Goddard has your Quote of the Day; Hotline on the increasingly difficult life of Alberto Gonzales; Jane Smiley says conservatives are expensive; The Weekly Standard on an inconvenient economic truth; Byron York says the White House will cave on Rove and others; Josh Marshall continues to dig; Kevin Drum on the implosion of the CD market; Wonkette has DC local news; DCist has our Picture of the Day (TM), and James Wolcott on grabbing the tiger by the tail.On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning:Back in 1991, Steve Kilbey, frontman for Aussie psych-rockers The Church, got together with Grant McLennan of the Go-Betweens for some songwriting and comradeship. The end result of that collaboration was the group Jack Frost, and an LP of the same name. Here's the video clip for our favorite track, "Thought That I Was Over You."

Wednesday's Gratuitous Soccer Link:If there's one thing you can count on in English football these days, it's the certainty of some kind of clash between Manchester United and Chelsea FC. But with the two clubs vying for the Premier League title, the Champions League title and the FA Cup, this year looks better than most. Here's The Guardian on how it could all come down to 14 days in May.

Current Comments

John,

That water swirling in a different direction is a hoax. Been there, saw the trick, can re-create it in Danielsville - and we're in the Northern Hemisphere - even if PSA-Queen Julie Harhart is our state rep.